Israel hit on handling of Ethiopians

May 20, 2008 9:00am

A state audit faulted Israel’s handling of recent Ethiopian immigrants.

The annual state comptroller’s report issued Tuesday found that 65 percent of Ethiopian Jews who recently moved to Israel require the assistance of welfare agencies, but that the state has not yet provided the personnel and facilities to cope properly with the demand.

Difficulties in assimilating recent Ethiopian arrivals in Israel have been highlighted in recent reports on schools that set up separate classes for the immigrants, citing “cultural differences.” Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s government came out sharply against such segregation.